Missoula, MT – Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has appointed Christy Clark as the new director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP), effective next year. Clark will succeed Dustin Temple, who is set to retire at the end of 2024.
Currently serving as the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA), Clark has a long history of leadership within the state. She will step down from her current position, with MDA Deputy Director Zach Coccoli named as the interim director.
In a statement announcing the appointment, Governor Gianforte praised Clark’s leadership skills and experience, emphasizing her suitability for the FWP role. “Christy Clark is a strong leader with the skills needed to lead the agency tasked with protecting Montana’s cherished recreational opportunities and public access to public lands,” Gianforte said. “With her record of leadership, I am confident in her as she takes on this new role at FWP.”
Clark, a rancher and former member of the Montana House of Representatives, expressed her enthusiasm for transitioning into her new role. “After spending more than 20 years ranching and raising kids, my passion for advocating for agriculture brought me to the Montana Department of Agriculture,” she said. “I’m equally passionate about our state’s hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreational opportunities, which truly make Montana ‘Montana.'”
Clark’s appointment marks the next phase of her long career in public service. Before becoming MDA director, she served in various capacities at the Department of Agriculture, including as deputy director, agricultural sciences administrator, and agricultural development and marketing bureau chief.
Her deep ties to both agriculture and Montana’s outdoor traditions position her to navigate the challenges of managing the state’s wildlife and public lands. As she transitions to FWP, Clark is expected to focus on preserving the state’s natural resources, ensuring access to outdoor recreation, and continuing the work of safeguarding Montana’s iconic wildlife and landscapes.
With Temple’s upcoming retirement, Clark’s appointment comes at a critical time as the FWP faces growing demands from the public to balance conservation efforts with recreational use of the state’s abundant outdoor resources. Clark’s leadership will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the department’s direction in the years to come.
